The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-07-23

front Of tho hammer, ready for that quicf
and deadly motion called "fanning.'
Another moment, and the door softly
opened and Beaver-Dam Bill entered fol.
lowed by his companion. They must have
been looking cautiously downward and
picking their steps, for they were both in
the room before they saw the weapon
pointed at them, and the fierce eyes be-
hind 1t, and heard the grim command:
"Hold up yer hands-yel" They obeycd
In an instant, In unmistakable surprise and
panic Uncle Jim advanced a step.
~ don't know why didn't shoot the pair
OF We on sight," said be in concentrated
tones.
The small man. cringing before him, man
aged to command his voice.
"Mr. Boyle" he stammered, "don't shoot,
don't shootl We amt a-doin' no harm.
Hope TO die cf 1 amt givin' 1t to yer
straight. Our guns amt loaded; yer kin
SEQ fur yerself."
Uncle Jim's face relaxed slightly. He
approached the men, who dared not lower
their hands, and took the revolver from the
belt OF each. Sure enough, they were not
charged. He felt for concealed weapons,
but found none.
"All right" he said. ~ allow We amt
very dangerous just now: but I'd like to
know what you cusses is a-doin'."
Then Mustang Nose spoke to him, for the
first siuce his arrival at the ranch. "rll
tell ye," said he, 'Me an this 'ere pard o.
mine we struck streak o. bad luck an
we had to light out OF Denver in q hurry,
an we come down here. We might as we'll
be hung for sheep as fur lamb, and we
wouldn't a made no bones of maxim q
strike in this yere ranch; but, when you
was a-givin' us the grand bounce, an that
pooty little gal come out an looked at us
two toughs with them gentle eyes o. her'n
an spoke in thas pityin voice, waal, blamed
ef thet didn't jest fetch me; an when got
my pard alone, sez to him: NO funny
business here,' an he sez, you bet.' AM
we allowed to light out of this at daylight,
an strike fur the mountains. Say, Mister,
ye amt got no call to keep us, hev ye"
Uncle Jim hesitated one moments; then,
with shrug of his shoulders, he said:
"You're right: amt got no use for ye.
Gitm
The men needed no second permission.
In five minutes time they were well on the
road to the foothills. Uncle Jim watched
their progress.
"a precious pair o. toughs, an no mis-
take" said he to himself. ''They'd got
away with us last night IL they'd a-wanted
to- An they let up because the little girl
was good to 'em. Waal, said there WANT
10 man that would harm her, an even them
cusses-that, when ye come to size 'em up,
want men, but brltes-they couldn't do it..
Now allow they've been up to sight o.
wickedness, but they done one square thing,
an no mistake"
An hour passed, and still Uncle Jim sat
In ha np.iu lirh fIo
foothills. Then the sound OF galloping
hoofs was heard; it came nearer and near
or, and six horsemen, splendidly mounted,
rode round the corner OF the house and
pulled up To any one familiar with the
| West, glance would have told their char.
| acter and their purpose. On their stern,
but not angry nor excited faces, in their
curiously unmistakable air OF grim, per-
sistent determination was written, as ifin
plain type, Vigilantei
| "Hullo, Jim! shakew cried the leader.
''What's up?nssked Uncle Jim, returning
the salutation.
"Havc you seen the pair Of cusses we're
afterl' asked tho leader. "One was tall,
and the other short, with red hair"
"Why," said Uncle Jim, "we put 'em up
fur the night, an they amt been gone
more'n an hour"
| Ou put IHeW ups' CTleu Uu0 leauer,
with an air Of astonishment, some sign OF
which appeared even ON the stern and stolid
faces behind him. "You put them up, and
there's any one OF you alive to tell the tale
this morningl Well, haven't time to talk
now, but when we come back ! shall wan,
to ask you what on earth you did to kcer
them quiet. Now, which way did they goi
Straight up tho road to the range! AL
| right Goodbye. Come on, boys,n and
they were off at a gallop.
Uncle Jim sat as before, looking straight
before him. Close to the foot hills the
mountain road forked, one branch leading
toward the south, another to pass; ant
the frontiersman had seen the two mer
take the former.
"Ef John had asked me, Of course II
a-told him which way they went," said hi
to himself, shut he didn't wait. I allow
them cusses is agoin to be took, but
swear I'd sooner hey 'em took some otf1eI
time than jest when they've done the squar
thing o. their lives" Then he lighted hi.
pipe All Fong had come noiselessly be
hind him. Later on he heard the latter CRY
"Hi yah!"
Uncle Jim looked up and saw the Chinese
boy gazing to the westward Following
his glance, he caught the last glimpse o
pass-the wrong roadl
eGood morning, Mr.. Boyle" he heard, il
a soft voice behind him. "Where are oul
GUESTS" . E-...
"Waal, ye see, MISS" he replied, "they
was in an awful hurry, an they've beer
gone nigh on an hour"
Then he looked ut the charming gir
standing there with the sun shining on he,
brown hair, and thought, almost with 9
shudder, Of what might have been in the
long night watches just passed. She hat
indeed been the bcuefcent fairy who hat
exercised the demons; the good angel wht
had set at naught the powers of darkness.
All this Uncle Jim thought from the depths
Of his honest heart, but after the manner
Of his kind he expressed himself very la
conically, just as the call came for break
fast.
The sun was shining more brightly thar
ever. The plains at the east and the noun
tains at the west were bathed in food o,
golden light. Tho happy party were gath
ering around the Widespread table, an(
then Uncle Jim drew long breath.
"Blame me-" said he, ''ef she amt /,
daisyl'-A. 4. Hayes. IN Epoch.
|
Substantial County Roads.